Asparagus-bunching machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. BEEKMKN.

ASPARAGUS BUNGHING MACHINE. No. 360,946. Patented Apr. 1 1887.

q vih wooeo amvemtot llNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWVIN BEEKMAN, OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW JERSEY.

ASPARAGUS-BUNCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,946, dated April12, 1887.

Application filed January 28, 1887. Serial No. 2-?5,'757. (No model.)

machine becomes adaptable to the bunching of different sizes andqualities of asparagus without injury to the heads by using adj ustablecams to actuate sliding jaws, so as to give an unequal motion and anunequal pressure on the jaws which shape the heads and butts of theasparagus-stalks, according to the requirements of different sizes andqualities of asparagus, and also to an automatic tying or binding devicefor asparagus-machines, and an improved device for cutting'off the buttsof the asparagus-stalks.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 showsthe machine in perspective with the jaws open, ready for the receptionof the asparagus-stalks. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the jaws, cam,and arm or lever. showing the jaws closed and the tieband fastened. Fig.3 is a vertical section of Fig. 1 divided lengthwise between the jaws.Fig. 4: is a View of'the tie-band.

' Similarletters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

A is a frame, arranged for the attachment thereto of the jaws a a and bb, the knife-guide E, and the sizing-plate F and the shaft 0. d d, beingsupports for the shaft 0, are parts of the frame A. The jaws a a arefirmly attached to the frame A. The jaws b b are movable, and are keptin place by the upright sides of the frame A and the plates 1. The jawsb b are slotted, (see Fig. 2, 0,) and slide on a projection, 10, of theplate Z. the supports (1 d, and upon this shaft are fixed the adjustablecams B B, the arm or lever G, by which it is moved, and thecutting-knife D. The cams B Bare connected with the jawsb b by the links6 e, and maybe so adjusted by the use of the set-screws k that one ofthe jaws may move sooner orfasterthan the other, and also to allow agreater pressure to be put on one of the jaws than on the other. The

The sh aft 0 runs through advantage of this arrangement will be plain toone accustomed to putting up asparagus i. 6., Where the grass is youngor brittle it is necessary, in order to save the heads from beingbroken, that very little pressure should be put upon them, while thebutts will stand a much greater pressure. I also propose, in makingthese machines, to have the butt-jaws interchangeable, so that whenpacking asparagus grown on young bedswhich is unproportionably large atthe butts as compared with grass grown on old bedsalarger pair ofbutt-jaws may be attached to the plate A, to be the same as abovedescribed, except in SlZe.

The lever or arm 0 is securely attached to the shaft '0, and the pushingof this up or down opens or closes the jaws b b by means of the cams.

The circular knife D is so constructed that in the operation of cuttingthe pressure on the knife is equivalent to a drawing movement of aknife-edge through the butts, thereby giving a clean out. It is hingedon the shaft 0, but Works independently of it. The knife-guide E isprovided with a slot, and is set to the frame A by the screw-bolt s, bymeans of which the length of the butts are regulated for cutting. Thepurpose of this guide is to regulate the length of the butts and toinsure an even -cutting of the same.

In order that the asparagus may be packed and cut to auniform lengththroughout, the plate F is attached to the rod f, projecting from theframe A, by means of a set-screw, and against this plate the heads ofthe asparagus are placed while filling the-jaws.

The binding device is as follows: On the inside of the jaws a a and b bare cut shallow grooves i, and at the lower termination of each of thejaws b b a pin, h, is inserted. The band N, Fig. 4, fits into thesegrooves, and is held in place in the jaws by the pin h passing throughthe hole It in the band N. One end of the band N is turned up and aholeout into the same to allow the other end of the band, which is tapered,to pass through it. The upper ends of the jaws are beveled corre--sponding to the width of the groove, so that when the bands are in placeand the jaws are pressed together the tapered ends of the bands runthrough the holes a, and as the jaws close the ends are brought to suchan angle as to secure them. They may be further secured by pressing theends flat against the bands. The bands are stamped out by a machinespecially constructed for that purpose.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Referring to Fig. 1, thecams B B, the knifeguide E, and the plate F are first adjusted to thesize and quality of the grass to be bunched. The bands N are slipped inthe grooves of the jaws and over the pin h. The asparagus-stalks arethen laid in the jaws with the heads against the plate F until the jawsare quite filled. The lever G is then forced back until thejaws cometogether. At the same time the bands are automatically fastened.ThcknifeD is brought forward through the guide E, thereby cutting offthe butts evenly. The lever O is then lifted up, opening the jaws andallowing the completed bunch to be taken out readily.

Having thus fully described the nature of myinvention, what I claimherein as new, and

desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. 111 an asparagusbunching machine, the combination of thesupporting-frame A, the fixed jaws a a, the slidingjaws b b, the rod f,projecting from the frame, gage-plate F, adjustable on said rod andknife-guide E, with the shaft 0, cams B, and knife D, carried by saidshaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination,with the frame A,fixed jaws a a, mounted thereon, and movablejaws I) b,of the shaft 0,mounted in bearings on the frame, the slotted cams B B, adjustable onsuch shaft, means for connecting said cams with the movable jaws, andmeans for cutting the bunch, substantially as set forth.

3. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of the frame,bunching device mounted thereon, the adjustable gage-plate,

theadjustableslottedknife-guide,and theknife cooperating with such guideto sever the ends of the bunch, substantially as set forth.

4. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of the frame,grooved jaws fixed thereon, the grooved sliding jaws provided with pinsh, the tie-bands co-operating with the jaws, and means for operatingthemovable jaws, substantially as set forth.

5. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of frame A, havingend uprights, fixed jaws a a, and theplates Z Z, of the movable jawsworking between the plates and end uprights, the shaft 0, and adjustablecams B B, carried by the shaft and connected to the movable jaws,substantially as set forth.

6. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of the frame andfixed jaws mounted thereon, the movable jaws, the shaft mounted inbearings on the frame, the adjustable cams carried by the shaft andconnected with the movable jaws, the lever O, the curved knife D, andadjustable slotted knife-guideE, substantially as set forth.

7. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the fixed grooved jaws, incombination with the movable grooved jaws provided with means forholding-the tie-bands in place, and mechanism for operating the movablejaws to compress the buneh, as set forth.

8. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of the fixedgrooved jaws and the movable grooved jaws provided with pins h, thespring-bands N, constructed as described, and means, as described, foroperating the movablejaws to compress the bunch and close the bandsaround the same, substantially as set forth.

EDWIN 'BEEKMAN.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. IVINS, HARRY CROSSLEY.

